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The Backcountry Weekend at Coe Park
April 2009 
Royal Larkspur, photo by Barry Breckling

It’s that time again!

For one spectacular weekend this spring, Henry W. Coe State Park will again open the gate at Bell's Station on Highway 152 east of Gilroy. The Coe Backcountry Weekend, held in the little-traveled east side of the 87,000 acre park is scheduled for April 24-26, 2009. This event, sponsored by the Pine Ridge Association and the California Department of Parks and Recreation, allows visitors vehicle access to a remote and beautiful area. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians have a unique opportunity to see and enjoy an area isolated from the park's Morgan Hill entrance by long distances and rugged terrain.

The east side of the park has beautiful spring wildflowers, great fishing, and scenic trails, some with breathtaking panoramic views of the Diablo Range. The ridges and valleys are broader and easier to travel than the steep terrain in the western part of the park, and you can plan day trips to areas that normally require several days of strenuous backpacking, places like Mississippi Lake and the Orestimba Wilderness.

During the weekend, you can explore on your own or you can participate in group activities, such as guided hikes and horseback rides, wildflowers walks, and bird watching strolls. To help you make the most of your visit, we'll provide brochures, park maps, and all sorts of information at visitor booths near the Pacheco Creek crossing, County Line Road, and the Orestimba Corral.

The fees for entering the park on this special weekend are:

  • one day (either Saturday or Sunday), $20 per vehicle;
  • two days with camping overnight on Saturday, $40 per vehicle;
  • BACKPACKERS ONLY, $50 per vehicle for two nights of camping (Friday and Saturday).

There is no limit on the number of people in a vehicle. Carpooling is encouraged.

Entrance is by application only, since we limit the number of cars each day.

Backpackers:  If you are selected for the Backpacker only option, you will be allowed to enter on Friday afternoon between 1 and 6 PM. You will register at the Bells Station entrance gate for your backpacking destination, and park anywhere along the Kaiser Aetna Road between Center Flats Road and County Line Road.

The gate will open for all others at 7:30 am on Saturday and Sunday. As always, everyone must be on their way out by 5 pm on Saturday or 5 pm on Sunday. Only those people camping overnight Saturday at the Orestimba Corral will be allowed to drive that far. Everyone else will park on the Kaiser Aetna Road. The popular shuttle will be running between a location near your car and the Orestimba Corral.

For more information, select one of the following:
  Day users:
people coming in for the day only on Saturday or Sunday
  Car campers:
people staying overnight Saturday night and camping near their vehicle
  Backpackers:
people hiking into the backcountry to camp
  Horse campers:
people staying overnight Saturday night near their horse trailer. Extra long horse trailers are restricted. For more details watch this page.
Visitors can take advantage of the free shuttle service along Kaiser-Aetna Road.

Commemorative T-Shirt Photos Selected

Each year, a contest is held to select a photo for the commemorative Backcountry Weekend T-shirt. This year, the theme is “The Four Seasons of Coe Park”. There were so many wonderful photos submitted that there will be TWO choices for shirts this year: photos of SCENERY and photos of WILDLIFE. Check the links to see mock ups of the pictures.

More Information

If you have general questions about the Backcountry Weekend, send them to:  coebackcountry@verizon.net.

Or, call the park office at (408) 779-2728.

Rules and Guidelines
No tickets are sold at the Bell's Station entrance.  You must have a reservation to get into the backcountry.
Only one application is accepted per address.
Everyone is strongly encouraged to carpool.
Vehicles are allowed on the Kaiser Aetna Road (the main dirt road) between Bell’s Station and County Line Road. All side roads are closed to the public.
All horse trailers and those camping overnight at the Orestimba Corral may drive to the Corral. Please obey all traffic control.
You are allowed to camp anywhere along the Kaiser Aetna Road between Center Flats Road and County Line Road as long as your vehicle stays on the side of the road, and does not block the flow of traffic.
Dogs and firearms are not allowed.
If you're planning to backpack, you must register first at Bell's Station.
Camp trailers and motor homes are not allowed.
Rain cancels the event..
Open fires, barbecues, and hibachis are not allowed.  Camp stoves are permitted.
If you fish, you must comply with the State Fish and Game regulations.  We encourage catch and release with barbless hooks.

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